All five Premier Foreways corner shops in Carlisle are set to close permanently after nearly 40 years of trading, with Armstrong Watson appointed as liquidator. The independently owned outlets, which operated under the Premier banner, had served the community for almost four decades.
Stores to shut across Carlisle
The branches on Wigton Road, Bedford Road, Blackwell Road, Newlaithes Avenue, and Warwick Road will all shut their doors. Local residents have described the closures as a 'shame'.
One neighbour wrote on Facebook: "They've been there so long. Hope the staff find something else." Additional comments noted that shelves had been 'empty a while', while others expressed surprise, saying they believed the stores 'were doing okay'.
Tributes to owner Billy Bone
The outlets were owned by Billy Bone, who has received glowing tributes on social media from numerous former staff members. One worker posted: "Good employers like this are few and far between, and I know many of the staff who have worked for them over the years will wholeheartedly agree. They will be sorely missed in the community."
Mr Bone described the liquidation decision as particularly tough, given they were Carlisle's first Premier stores.
Liquidation confirmed
An Armstrong Watson spokesperson confirmed: "We can confirm that Armstrong Watson has been instructed by the directors to assist them in placing the company into liquidation."
Premier operates as a convenience store brand under Tesco's ownership, with more than 4,000 outlets nationwide. The majority of outlets nationwide display the Premier branding but remain independently owned. What happens next for these shops is currently uncertain.
